Elizabeth N. Pitman

2 months ago | jdsupra.com | Nora Katz |Elizabeth N. Pitman |Colbey Reagan

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rescinded the Biden Administration's guidelines for immigration enforcement actions in or near protected areas, such as schools, hospitals and churches. The recission of the 2021 policy memo means that healthcare facilities are no longer considered protected areas from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions, including arrests.

Jan 6, 2025 | jdsupra.com | Shannon Britton Hartsfield |Elizabeth N. Pitman

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that strengthens the Security Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If finalized, the rule will have a significant impact on the healthcare sector. The NPRM's proposals are designed to address changes in the healthcare environment and technology, significant increases in cyberattacks and data breaches, and cybersecurity best practices, among other areas.

Jan 2, 2025 | jdsupra.com | Elizabeth N. Pitman

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an unpublished Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)1 that strengthens the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule and, if finalized, will have a significant impact on the healthcare sector. HHS observed that healthcare breaches can lead to harms far greater than those of breaches in other business sectors.

Dec 23, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Elizabeth N. Pitman

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finalized information blocking exceptions just days before the Dec. 23, 2024, implementation deadline of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) reproductive health information amendment. With healthcare providers scrambling to implement this HIPAA requirement in compliance with information blocking, this final rule provides some relief.

Dec 18, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Elizabeth N. Pitman

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to provide guidance regarding the language access provisions of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Most of Section 1557 was effective July 5, 2024, with some requirements having staggered effective dates over the year through July 5, 2025.